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 OHN SPITLER, a retired farmer living on section 5, Hutton Township, is one of the pioneer settlers of Coles County. He was born July 12, 182G, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is the sou of John and Sarah (Caldwell) Spitler. His paternal grandfather, whose name likewise was John Spitler, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio. His marriage took place in Virginia, and a family of seven children was born to them David, Samuel, John, Henry, Lydia, Rebecca, and a daughter who became Mrs. Hoover. The grandparents lived to a good old age, and died in Fairfield County. They were members of the Baptist Church. John Spitler, Sr., was born Sept. 25, 1805, in Rockingham County, Va. He received only a common-school education, and remained at home assisting his parents on the farm until his marriage. He was a young man when his parents removed to Ohio, and his marriage to Miss Sarah Caldwell, who was likewise a native of Rockingham County, Va., took place after their removal to Fairfield County. After this event Mr. Spitler passed a few years engaged in farming on his father’s property. He then purchased a hotel, of which he was the proprietor for twelve or fifteen years, but in a hazardous business venture lost both his own and his father’s property by going security for other parties who failed. Crippled by these reverses he then rented land, and for two years was engaged in farming. At the expiration of that time he rented a hotel in Salem, which he managed for two years. His health was then failing and he only lived one year after leaving the hotel. His death occurred Jan. 12, 1843, in Salem, Ohio. The father of our subject had been twice married. His first wife died Oct. 7, 1837, while he was proprietor of the first hotel, in Pleasantville, Ohio. After her death he married Mrs. Nancy Mock. She survived him, and is still living in Indiana. The record of the children by the first marriage is as follows: Mary was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and became the wife of John Fanning; she died, leaving three children, and her husband resides in Iroquois County, Ill. John is the subject of this sketch; Samuel R., born May 12, 1829, married Miss Mary A. Ball, and both are deceased, leaving three children; Andrew J., born Nov. 4, 1831, married Miss Mary Conner, who died leaving five children; he married the second time, and resides in Trenton, Mo. Elizabeth, born in 1833, is the wife of William Knoke, resides in Bellevue, Ohio, and has two children. By the second marriage one daughter was born, Rebecca, who died at the age of eighteen. John Spitler, Jr., was about seventeen years of age when his father died. He had attended the common schools during his boyhood, but was now thrown upon his own resources, his father having suffered from financial losses, and died possessed of but little means. However, he resolutely set to work and learned the trade of a woolen manufacturer. After his apprenticeship was over he was occupied in that business for about fifteen years. On the 3d of October, 1847, Mr. Spitler was married to Miss Millie Beery. Mrs. Spitler was born Oct. 6, 1829, in Rockingham County, Va., and is the daughter of Samuel and Jemima (Spicer) Beery. Her parents were both natives of Virginia, and a few years after their marriage removed to Fairfield County. Ohio, where Mr. Beery purchased land and made his permanent home. After the death of his first wife Mr. Beery married the second time. By the first marriage thirteen children were born: Annie is the widow of William Her; Millie is the wife of our subject; David died in childhood; Catharine, the wife of W. H. Dodds, resides in Hutton Township; Barbara K. is married, and resides in Ohio; Mary Frances, deceased, was the wife of Isaac Featheroff, a resident of Ohio; William enlisted in an Ohio regiment for three years’ service in the Civil War, but in one year was stricken down and died of fever; Joseph died in childhood; John is married and resides in Florida; Margaret died in childhood, and three in infancy. A few years after his marriage Mr. Spitler left the woolen-mills, and in the spring of 1856 removed to Coles County, Ill., making the long, and toilsome overland journey with his wife and three little children by team. On his arrival here he settled in Hutton Township, and in the intervening time has bought and sold several farms. In 1877 he purchased the place where he now resides, and in the following year took possession, with his family. The farm contains 159 acres, all of which is well improved; he also owns twenty-four acres of timbered land, located on section 7, Hutton Township. Mr. Spitler has never enjoyed vigorous health, and during the last twenty years has not been actively engaged in farming, his sons managing the farm work almost entirely. During the last year he has suffered seriously from chronic bronchitis, which has confined him to the house. His family consisted of seven children. Their first-born child died in infancy; Mary E., born March 17, 1850, died Aug. 19, 1854; Ida E., born July 26, 1851, married Arch Smith, and resides on the homestead; William A., born Oct. 9, 1853, died Sept. 11, 1854; Alva B., born May 26, 1855, was married, Jan. 20, 1884, to Miss Rosa Gilbert, and resides in Hutton Township; Frederick I., born on Christmas Day, 1858, was married, Dec. 7, 1879, to Miss Juda C. Martin, and resides on the homestead; Benjamin F., born Feb. 8, 1863, was married Feb. 20, 1885, to Miss Catherine Scott, and likewise resides on the homestead. With his wife, Mr. Spitler is a member of the Christian Church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. |
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